Freshman Samantha Johnson represented Ferris State University at the 2011 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 12 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Johnson finished ninth of the nine finals participants in the mile run with a time of 5:08.33. In Friday’s preliminaries, she placed fourth overall (5:01.91) to advance.
Johnson’s fourth-place performance in heat one of the prelims stood up as the fourth-fastest effort among the nine other runners who qualified for the finals on Saturday afternoon.
Among the initial 14 competitors, she held the nation’s twelfth fastest qualifying time (4:56.25).
Recently, Johnson took fifth overall in the mile run at the 2011 GLIAC Indoor Championships. Her outstanding efforts were recognized by the league’s head coaches as she was honored with the GLIAC’s Freshman of the Year Award.
Johnson has compiled three top-five meet performances this indoor season. She captured first place in the mile run at the Division II Challenge Meet Feb. 5.
As a member of FSU’s nationally-ranked cross country team, Johnson placed 63rd overall and helped the squad to an eighth place finish at the 2010 Division II National Championships in Louisville, Ky. n